Brandon Lowe In Cleanup Spot Again

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe is starting at second base and is batting cleanup on Monday against Rockies right-handed starter Chad Bettis. Lowe has power upside and needs to be considered by those in AL-only and deep mixed leagues, especially with second baseman Joey Wendle (hamstring) on the injured list now. Lowe's left-handed stick […]

Xavien Howard Not Holding Out

Despite not having a new contract, Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard showed up to the start of the team's voluntary offseason program on Monday. Howard wants to become the league's highest-paid cornerback. He's currently still on his rookie deal and is set to make $1.3 million in 2019. The Dolphins have expressed interest in keeping […]

Emmanuel Ogbah Anticipates Being Traded

Cleveland Browns defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah didn't report to the start of the team's offseason program on Monday in anticipation of being traded in the future, according to a source. The 25-year-old has only 12.5 combined sacks in three seasons with the Browns after being a second-round pick in 2016. He's expendable after the club […]

Browns Re-Sign Rashard Higgins

The Cleveland Browns re-signed restricted free-agent wide receiver Rashard Higgins to a one-year deal worth $2.025 million on Monday. The fifth-round tender had been placed on Higgins last month. Receiver Ricardo Louis was also cut on Monday. Higgins caught a career-high 39 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games in his third […]

Julio Jones Not Worried About Contract Situation

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones isn't concerned about his contract situation and isn't publicly lobbying to become the league's highest-paid player at his position. The six-time Pro Bowler doesn't seem pressured to get anything done for the time being, as he has two years and $21.026 million left on the five-year, $71.25 million extension […]

Homer Bailey Likely To Start Wednesday

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Homer Bailey is likely to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Twins. Bailey isn't currently on the 40-man roster, but the Royals will likely option another pitcher to Triple-A Omaha to make room for the veteran right-hander. Pitching coach Cal Eldred confirmed that Bailey threw 6 1/3 innings […]

Jedd Gyorko Ready To Return Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko (calf) has joined the team and said he will be ready to come off the injured list on Thursday for the team's home opener. Gyorko has some pop in his lumber still but will be mostly a utility infielder for the Red Birds, limiting his appeal in mixed leagues. […]

Jed Lowrie Still Has Work To Do

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) spent the weekend in Washington rehabbing his knee, but at some point he'll need to go to Florida and take part in minor league games. Lowrie is at least several days or more away from live game action, but he did take ground balls, hit in an […]

Nate Jones Not Worried About Velocity

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Nate Jones' fastball has averaged 94.9 mph in the two games he's appeared in 2019, which is down from the 97.2 mph he averaged in each of his last two seasons. The 33-year-old believes his velocity will pick back up as the season progresses, even though he appeared in only […]

Jon Jay Feeling Better

Chicago White Sox outfielder Jon Jay, who is on the injured list with a right hip strain that has also affected his back area, is feeling much better, according to manager Rick Renteria. Jay will be re-evaluated this week in Chicago. Jay's absence to begin the season has allowed Leury Garcia to start in center […]

Hunter Strickland Out A Couple Months

Seattle Mariners closer Hunter Strickland will be out up to "a couple months" after an MRI exam showed a Grade 2 strain of his right lat muscle, according to manager Scott Servais. Doctors haven't actually set a timetable for his return, but Strickland is optimistic that he won't need surgery. He will rehab his shoulder […]

Darren Sproles Won't Make Decision Until May

Free-agent running back Darren Sproles said he won't make a decision on whether he'll retire until May. He'll turn 36 in June but has had talks with the Philadelphia Eagles about coming back for one more year. While Sproles could still be useful as a return man and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, […]

More Details On Xander Bogaerts' Extension

Updating a previous report, Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts' new six-year, $120 million contract extension will pay him a straight $20 million per season. It'll include a vesting option for the 2026 season at 535 plate appearances and will also pay $20 million. Bogaerts is already set to make $12 million in 2019, and […]

Jon Gray Suffers Cramping In Sunday Start

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray suffered through some cramping in his right calf during his start on Sunday against the Marlins and had to leave the game early. However, it's a minor issue and he doesn't expect it to be a problem moving forward. The right-hander took a loss in his season debut against […]

Padres In The Mix For Dallas Keuchel

The San Diego Padres are engaged in ongoing dialogue with free-agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel's camp. The Padres also made a serious push to trade for Indians starter Trevor Bauer as the season began and have also spoken with the Blue Jays about right-hander Marcus Stroman, according to major league sources. The Padres aren't close […]

Chris Jones Wants To Stay With Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones, who had 15.5 sacks, 40 tackles, two forced fumbles, 19 tackles for loss and an interception returned for a touchdown last year, said he wants to be a Chief for life. He finished third in sacks and was a second-team All-Pro selection. Jones and the Chiefs are discussing […]

Dustin Pedroia Approaching Rehab Assignment

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) played eight innings in extended spring training on Sunday and is scheduled for nine innings on Tuesday. He will then head to Single-A Greenville to start a rehab assignment. There remains no timetable for Pedroia's return to Boston, but there's a chance he could play in the […]

Hunter Strickland Has Grade 2 Lat Strain

Seattle Mariners closer Hunter Strickland's MRI exam showed a Grade 2 lat strain, so he won't require surgery. Strickland will be on the injured list for a while, but he should be stashed if possible as the team's clear closer when healthy. In the meantime, it'll likely be some combination of Cory Gearrin and Matthew […]

Freddy Galvis Scratched Sunday

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Freddy Galvis (back) was scratched from the starting lineup on Sunday with a sore back. He is being replaced in the lineup by Richard Urena, who will hit eighth against Tigers starting pitcher Matt Moore. It doesn't sound like a serious injury for Galvis, who played all 162 games each of […]

Shane Bieber Pushed Back

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber won't make his season debut on the mound until likely late next week or weekend. Carlos Carrasco is going on Sunday, Mike Clevinger will start on Monday and Corey Kluber will start on Wednesday after the team's off day on Tuesday. Bieber, a popular breakout candidate in 2019, will […]

Giants Discussing Josh Rosen

The New York Giants are discussing a potential trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen as they investigate possible options to find their quarterback of the future. There have been "rumors" that the Cardinals plan to take Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick, which would make Rosen expendable. But those are just […]

Giants Could Select Pass Rusher At Six Overall

The New York Giants would love to find quarterback Eli Manning's success in this year's draft, but it'll be hard for them to pass up a pass rusher with the No. 6 overall pick. "There are a ton of great defensive players in this draft," a team source told SNY at the NFL owners meetings […]

Giants May Stick With Eli Manning Longer

The New York Giants would love to find the successor to quarterback Eli Manning in this year's draft, but they aren't sure if they are enamored with Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins enough to take him at sixth overall. Trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen might be another option, but the team also isn't kidding […]

Jimmy Garoppolo Expected To Be Fine For Training Camp

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (knee) is on schedule in his rehab from a torn ACL last season and should be fully cleared to participate at the start of training camp, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Garoppolo has been working out on the field and looks to be ready for the offseason program. […]

Jeremy Jeffress Nearing Rehab Assignment

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress (shoulder) threw an inning in extended spring training on Saturday and will pitch again on Tuesday. If that goes well, he'll begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A San Antonio at the end of next week. Even though he's currently on the injured list, Jeffress became a lot more interesting […]

Daniel Murphy May Be Dealing With Mallet Finger

Colorado Rockies second baseman Daniel Murphy is flying to Arizona to meet with a hand specialist, and the fear is that he might have suffered mallet finger, according to manager Bud Black. Mallet finger would mean torn ligaments in addition to the fractured finger and would keep Murphy out for at least several weeks. Murphy […]

Teoscar Hernandez (OF, TOR) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ team leagues OWNED IN: 5% of leagues ANALYSIS: Hernandez played in a total of 134 games for Toronto in 2018 and while he came out of the gates hot after an April call-up, he finished by slashing .239/.302/.468 with 22 home runs, 57 RBI and 163 strikeouts in 476 at-bats. He swung […]

Brewers Unlikely To Sign Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers are unlikely to sign free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, as they don't have enough room in the 2019 payroll to take on another contract of at least $18 million this year. Kimbrel turned down a $17.9 million one-year qualifying offer from the Red Sox over the winter. The hard-throwing right-hander would be a […]

Orioles Won't Have Set Closer For A While

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said it might be a while before the team has a set closer in 2019. Reliever Mychal Givens, who was expected to be the primary closer for the O's, pitched in the eighth inning of Saturday's win over the Yankees. Richard Bleier started the ninth inning but Mike Wright came […]

Dellin Betances Throws Off Mound Saturday

New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances (shoulder) threw off a mound on Saturday in Florida. "Another good day for Dellin. I feel like he's moving in the right direction. It's coming out better," manager Aaron Boone said. Barring any setbacks, the hard-throwing reliever could make his season debut in mid-April. Betances probably won't see […]